Unemployment Benefits Explained: What You'll Actually Receive

State unemployment is a safety net — but for most professionals, it's a net with very large holes.

Unemployment benefits are funded and administered by each state, and the amounts vary widely. California caps benefits around $450 per week. Florida tops out near $275. Most states land somewhere between $235 and $500 per week.

For a professional earning $120,000 a year, that $400-a-week benefit replaces roughly 17% of gross income — before taxes. It doesn't come close to covering a mortgage, let alone childcare, student loans, and the rest of a modern household's fixed costs.

How it actually works

You file a claim with your state after separation. There's a waiting week in many states, benefits are taxed as income, and there's a maximum duration — typically up to 26 weeks, though it varies. If you're laid off (not fired for cause), you generally qualify.

The check arrives, but the math doesn't close. That's not a criticism of unemployment — it was never designed to replace a professional income. It was designed as a floor.

Closing the gap

Cushion is the layer that sits on top of state benefits. It's designed to supplement up to 60% of your income for up to 5 months — paying out alongside unemployment to keep your mortgage, lease, and daily life funded while you find the right next role.

State benefits fall short. That's the entire reason Cushion exists.